The Monthly Update
February 2008
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
This edition of the “Monthly Update” continues with information on some of the past actions that a lack of space precluded our printing until now. We believe that you will find them informative and helpful in knowing the myriad of things happening in our United Methodist Church.
From January 2 - 5 Concerned Methodists had an exhibit at the Congress on Evangelism that was held in Savannah, Georgia. At the gathering I chanced to meet a Chinese national who lives in Singapore, which is located at the bottom of the Malay Peninsula. I had a friend with whom I’d lost touch who also lived in the same city. I asked if he knew Noel Goh (also a Chinese). He did. I gave him one of my cards and asked that he pass it on to him. That, also, he did. This past week, Noel sent me an e-mail and we have reestablished contact. Isn’t God’s providence wonderful?
One reason I was anxious to contact Noel again is because of our mutual passion to evangelize the Chinese people. I believe that there are similarities with what has happened in that country and with the Roman Empire during the days of Christ. Whereas, 2000 years ago, Rome - a pagan government – had united that country by force, and ensured a cohesive society by its road system and common language, this served to facilitate the spread of the Good News of Jesus Christ. In a similar way, Mao Tse Tung united mainland China under a communistic system – which is atheistic – and strove to make the people literate through the introduction of a simplified form of common Chinese characters; this is also serving to facilitate the spread of the Good News of Jesus Christ in that country. Couple that with the fact that the Chinese are spread all over the world – they are global merchants – this can serve as a channel to communicate the message of Christ all over the world as never before!
The Chinese that I have met are very passionate about their faith in our Lord. When the communists took over that country in 1949 and effectively shut the door to Western missionaries, it was feared that the church would die. On the contrary, the best estimates put the true “underground” church at between 78 million and 120 million people today. Praise be to God! What better way, then, to take the most populous country with its citizens spread all over the world, and engage in world-wide evangelism. Let us pray that this atheistic society will be permeated with Christian churches and witnesses, and become a Christian nation!
I thank the Lord for the opportunities that he presents to us!
We appreciate so much the support you provide - both prayerfully and financially. Please continue to partner with us as we “contend for the faith” that the Lord has entrusted to our care.
In His service,
Allen O. Morris,
Executive Director
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February 2008 Update
Bits and Pieces from across the United Methodist Church
“He that is warm for truth, and fearless in its defense, performs one of the duties of a good man; he strengthens his own conviction, and guards others from delusion; but steadiness of belief, and boldness of profession, are yet only part of the form of godliness.” - Samuel Johnson
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The Good Stuff
+ Workshop teaches churches to be servants, not suckers
[Editorial note: We as Christians are often caught between the dilemma of caring for the sick, homeless, and hungry - yet at the same time, not being used by those who are dishonest. This is included because it has good advice for all of us in balancing our sense of compassion with that of being good stewards in doing God’s work. - AOM]
The woman looks lost and helpless. Tears run down her face.
There she stands as you look up from your desk in the church's front office. She asks for money to buy food for her children.
Or, a man approaches as you return to your car at the mall loaded with Christmas packages. "I lost my job, my car broke down. I need some money to get home," he says. "Any little bit you can spare would help."
What do you do? Hand over a few dollars? If so, do you walk away feeling like you have just been "taken"?
You are not alone, according to Beth Templeton, who has spent 25 years working with homeless and poor people. She offers a plan to help you be a servant instead of a sucker.
Templeton works with United Ministries in Greenville, S.C., a faith-based organization of about 100 congregations that aids local people who are homeless, experiencing financial crisis or lacking education or employment skills. The ministry began in 1970 by the South Carolina United Methodist Annual (regional) Conference and today involves many faith groups.
"I'm very fortunate in that I get to work both with people who have needs as well as with people who want to help address those needs," Templeton said. She teaches a workshop called "Servant or Sucker" that grew out of questions from ministers and church staff asking, "What do we do when people just show up? We feel like we are being taken, but we have no idea what to do."
She also started and directs "Our Eyes Were Opened," an outreach program of United Ministries targeting people with resources who want to reach out to those without resources. "So many times through the years I've seen some people really want to help, but they end up making a bad situation worse. Or they get angry at the very people they want to help," she said.
It's OK to say 'no'
"It's harder to say 'no' in a compassionate way and then help find other resources for somebody," Templeton said. "But sometimes when you're giving money, you're helping people to get drugs or to buy alcohol or to do things that are not healthy at all, that could actually end up in death."
In her Servant or Sucker workshop, Templeton offers these mantras:
" Never do something for somebody that the person can and should do for themselves;
" Poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine;
" Be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. (Matthew 10)
She gives practical advice on the dos and don'ts of helping someone directly:
" Give money to vendors instead of the person;
" Verify the story before you pay a bill or help with a financial problem;
" Use a voucher system for food or gas.
Her ABCs of helping are to:
" Acknowledge the person has a problem;
" Don't believe everything you hear;
" Remember that Christianity is not judged by giving people exactly what they want.
She wants people to L.E.A.R.N.:
" Learn available resources in your area;
" Explain the reason behind your answer, and do not apologize;
" Acknowledge the problem;
" Referrals, make good ones;
" Never explain what other agencies' policies are unless you are absolutely sure. For example, don't send someone to an agency with the promise of a job, housing, food, etc., unless you know for sure they can provide those things.
Levels of involvement
When working in the midst of poverty, churches must decide how much they can do. There are levels of involvement, according to Templeton. Most churches are level-one churches. They deal with the symptoms of poverty by providing soup kitchens, clothing closets, night shelters, etc. Level two is helping families overcome issues and barriers that prevent them from thriving. These could include assisting them with pursuing employment and education. Level three is reviewing systems that are barriers to escaping poverty. Is there adequate, safe, accordable housing? Is there adequate transportation to places of work? Why can't people who work long, hard hours still not afford housing? Is there adequate health care?
"I honestly believe that the justice that the Bible talks about is systems work," Templeton said. For instance, working to change the system might mean campaigning to raise the minimum wage. A person earning the minimum wage of $5.15 an hour cannot afford a fair-market apartment anywhere in the United States. In Greenville, a family needs to earn at least $11.50 an hour to afford housing, according to Templeton. That means two people working full-time and earning minimum wage cannot find an affordable place to live.
How churches can help
Churches have numerous options to respond. If they choose to help anyone who walks in the door, church policy needs to address staff safety, designate someone to work with the homeless and allocate money in the budget. A church may decide to use all of their benevolence money for direct aid and do it through an organization such as United Ministries. They can establish a specific day to take requests for assistance and make appointments throughout the week for that day.
Churches can choose to help by agency referral only. Churches also can staff a crisis ministry such as that of Buncombe Street United Methodist Church in Greenville.
Debbee Gordon, a longtime member of Buncombe, is on the board of United Ministries. She also was part of one of Templeton's poverty simulation workshops, which give participants an experience of what poverty looks and feels like. "We are people who work everyday, pay taxes, and don't know anything about poverty," said Gordon. In the workshop, participants are assigned roles and resources and must simulate four weeks in that person's life. "You go to work, pick up your paycheck, pick up your children, pay bills, everything," said Gordon. "It is a small taste of what people have to go through everyday." Gordon assumed the role of a 14-year-old boy in a family with a 7-year-old sister with ADHD and asthma and a baby brother. Their father had to balance getting them to and from school, going to work, and paying bills on a limited income. "We came close to getting evicted because the mortgage on our house was not through a bank," she said. "When 'Dad' went to pay the note at the mortgage company, he forgot to get a receipt. When told the mortgage was past due, he had to pay again because he had no receipt." At the end of the day, all participants come together to discuss their experiences. It is an intense, eye-opening experience, said Gordon.
'God put me here'
Templeton said she believes that sometimes people placed in our paths are messengers of God--angels in disguise. When confronted with her own limitations or encountering someone who needs help beyond her resources, she says a prayer:
"God, this is your child and I care and so if there is something I can do, then help open that door for me. But at this point I am entrusting this person to your care. Bring the right person into this man's life so that hopefully he can have a different kind of life if that is what you want."
- By Kathy L. Gilbert, United Methodist News Service (UMNS); Nashville {625}; Dec. 18, 2007.
+ Congress on Evangelism Draws More than 700 in Savannah With the Charles Wesley hymn “Spirit of Faith Come Down” providing the theme, the 2008 Congress on Evangelism brought together more than 700 United Methodists to share their passion and strategies for spreading the gospel. The congress is a place where “we can come and use the ‘E’ word without being ashamed or looking over our shoulders,” said Bishop James Swanson, resident bishop of the Holston Annual Conference, during the opening worship service.
The January 2-5 event was held on Hutchinson Island in honor of the 300th anniversary of Wesley’s birth. Both Charles Wesley and his brother, Methodism founder John Wesley, came from England to southeast Georgia and landed February 6, 1736, on Cockspur Island, just downriver from Hutchinson Island. “We United Methodists are here at the birthplace of the Wesleys’ work in the new land … the Colony of Georgia,” wrote the Rev. David Kerr, president of the Congress, in a message to those attending.
The congress, held each January, is sponsored by the Council on Evangelism and the United Methodist Board of Discipleship with the support of the Foundation for Evangelism. This year’s three-day event was filled with preaching, workshops and, of course, the hymns of Charles Wesley Bishop Swanson said the 40-year decline in membership in the United Methodist Church has “happened on our watch,” and that reversing that trend will require the power of the Holy Spirit. “We cannot do this on our own power or with our own strength. We forgot it is not about what we possess; it’s about what possesses us,” he said. The bishop also did a well-attended workshop on “Preaching for Conversion.”
The National Association of United Methodist Evangelists presented the “Philip Award,” named in honor of the evangelist Philip in Acts, to the Rev. William Bouknight and the Rev. Bob Nelson for their outstanding leadership in evangelism.
For the full UMNS article by the Rev. Jim Nelson, editor of the Wesleyan Christian Advocate, go to: http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nl/content3.asp?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=2433457&ct=4918849&printmode=1
- Good News Perspective – No. 11, January 14, 2008; e-mail newsletter.
Of Interest
+ Southeastern Jurisdiction tackles diversity issues
[Note: One wonders where there is the clear message of winning people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. If this were a central focus and we concentrated on serving Him, many of these other problems would disappear. - AOM]
Lake Junaluska, N.C. Leaders of the United Methodist Southeastern Jurisdiction addressed the challenge of churches that struggle with inclusiveness during a conference aimed at bringing varied ethnic groups from diversity into community. A sense of urgency marked the "Embracing God's Diversity" convocation Dec. 13-15 at the United Methodist retreat center in Lake Junaluska. Organizers hoped to turn years of talk into action, and for the Southeast to take on a leadership role throughout the denomination. "Across the SEJ, we're tired of talking about a more diverse and inclusive church," said the Rev. Carl Arrington, the region's director of African-American Ministries and a conference organizer. "We want people of all backgrounds to know they are welcome in The United Methodist Church as equal children of God."